Author's Note: There was some differences last chapter, but this story isn't canon. I do, however, try to incorporate as much as I can from the books.
Disclaimer: Anything recognized doesn't belong to me and there is dialogue taken from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
3. A New Friend
Victoria spent her birthday and the rest of the summer preparing herself for Hogwarts. She read over all her textbooks cover to cover and Magical Drafts and Potions twice. She carefully packed, then repacked her trunk with its V.A.T. inscribed on its end in bronze letters.
After breakfast on August 31st, Victoria tried on her full school uniform for the first time. Smoothing out her robe's non-existent wrinkles, she looked at herself in the mirror. She didn't quite recognize the person looking back at her. Her plain brown hair was held back with a black plastic headband, the same way she's worn it ever since she started primary school years ago. Her eyes appeared especially blue and large compared to her dark uniform. The sleek black robes, plush sweater, and crisp skirt made her feel very grown up; she usually wore child-like pastel blouses with simple skirts or worn jeans. By as she twirled, robes swishing around her, she could almost imagine that the robes themselves were magic. Magic. She smiled in giddy anticipation. In little more than twenty-four hours, she'd be on her way to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She brushed her finger tips against the Hogwarts crest over breast. After she was sorted into a house, it, along with her tie, would change according to her house; Professor Snape had told her at the wizards clothing shop.
After admiring her new uniform for a few more minutes, she took it off and changed back into her regular clothing. She carefully folded the uniform and placed it at the top of her trunk so she could change into it on the train. As she had for the past two weeks, she put her new wand in her jeans pocket, just in case. Professor Snape had said that a witch or wizard always has their wand at hand. Walking over to her desk, she picked up Hogwarts, A History. She hadn't read it yet, but instead had saved it for today. Victoria wanted everything about Hogwarts to be fresh in her mind.
Curling up in her comfy armchair, she opened the cover of the rather massive book, and something fell out onto the floor. Bending over, she retrieved it. It was a small, thin black book. Curious, she flipped through its pages and saw that they were blank except for the name T.M. Riddle on the first page and a fifty year old date.
Deciding not to let it go to waste, she got up and rummaged through her trunk for a quill and her new ink well. She would start a diary and write about her new life as a witch. This T.M. Riddle probably wouldn't care; the diary was over fifty years old and he had never bothered to write in it.
Sitting at her desk, she pulled the cork from the well and dipped in her quill. She had practiced writing with it just a few days ago, so she confidently wrote,
August 31st, 1992
She paused for a moment, and then gasped. The date seemed to disappear into the yellowed pages, and a second later, new words appeared,
Is it really?
She inked her quill again and wrote, in barely legible writing for her hands were shaking so badly,
What is this?
Once more she watched the words fade away.
My Diary.
T.M. Riddle?
Tom. What's your name?
Victoria Thomas.
Pleasure. Tell me, how did you come by my diary?
Victoria continued this dialogue with what was supposed to be an inanimate object. Magic really did change everything. She told him she'd found in it in Hogwarts, A History and he gave the book a great review, which prompted her to ask,
Is it really a book that is talking to me?
No, it is a memory of myself at sixteen. I was in my fifth year at Hogwarts when I enchanted this diary. You'll be starting at Hogwarts tomorrow, correct?
Yes.
It was almost a minute before Tom Riddle wrote back,
Do you know what house you want?
Slytherin.
Why is that?
The professor that took me to get my school things at Diagon Alley is the head of Slytherin.
Professor Slughorn?
No, Professor Snape. He teaches potions.
Slughorn did as well. He must have retired. Is Dippet still the headmaster?
No, Albus Dumbledore is.
Tom Riddle didn't reply. Victoria waited almost ten minutes, staring expectedly at the blank pages, before she wrote,
Tom?
He still didn't write back. Twenty minutes later and three more Tom?s, he finally answered,
Victoria.
Tom! You're back! Did something happen?
I was just collecting my thoughts. I'm curious though, are you Muggleborn?
Yes, my parents are Muggles, but –
She didn't finish her sentence. She remembered what Professor Snape had said about wizards like Malfoy and their belief in blood purity.
But…
The day I got my letter from Hogwarts and found out that I was a witch, I also found out that I'm adopted.
Interesting. Perhaps your birth parents were magical?
Victoria had honestly never thought that her birth parents might be magical. In fact, she'd never even given them a thought, despite all the drama with her parents since she'd discovered she was a witch. She frowned, her mind suddenly bombarded with possibilities and scenarios concerning her birth parents, but she vowed to think on it at a later time and wrote,
Does it matter?
It does if you want to be in Slytherin.
What do you mean?
Slytherins are not only cunning, resourceful, and ambitious, they are also proud purebloods.
Oh, so you have to have pureblood to be in Slytherin?
No…but don't fret, all of the houses have…admirable qualities. You'll be put where you belong. On a different note, after being alone for nearly fifty years, it is quite refreshing to have someone to talk to. If you wanted, you could use my diary as your own.
Really?
Yes….it feels good to have a friend again.
Victoria smiled, dipping her quill into the well, preparing to pour her heart out to her magical new friend.
XxXxX
A little before the crack of dawn the next day, there was a small knock at Victoria's bedroom door. Her mother stuck her head in, "Victoria, our train for King's Cross leaves in half an hour," she said timidly, not making eye contact with her daughter, before shutting the door.
Victoria, half asleep, smiled as she thought about the magical adventure she was about to embark on. Her smile faltered as she felt the nervous fluttering of butterflies. As excited as she was, she was also incredibly nervous.
She dressed carefully; the other young witches and wizards would see her first in her regular clothing. She put on her favorite pair of jeans – the one with the holey knees – with a sage cardigan pulled over a simple cotton shirt. After pushing her wavy hair away from her face with a headband, she gave herself a last once over, before writing a quick good bye to Tom.
I'm off!
Good luck.
She carefully stopped the ink well and placed it, along with her quill and the diary into her trunk. Patting her pocket, she felt her wand. Then, as quietly as possible, she wheeled her heavy trunk out of her room. Before heading down the stairs, she looked at her room one last time, and then lugged the trunk down into the foyer.
Her mother came out of the kitchen dressed in a light coat with a matching hat. She tucked a few muffins into her handbag before opening the front door for her daughter. After locking up, she followed her daughter as she walked quickly over the cobbled sidewalk to the small, country train station.
Usually, Mrs. Thomas and Victoria never went anywhere without Mr. Thomas. But his aversion to Victoria and being a part of her magical world outweighed impropriety. He hadn't even bothered to wake up to say good bye and hadn't done so when Victoria retired the night before. However, by now, Victoria knew well enough not to care. Nothing would change how he now felt about her – faithful to God to the last.
Once settled and seated on the train bound for London, Mrs. Thomas pulled out a book and began her daily devotional. Victoria looked out the window and saw a young couple and their daughter who was probably a bit younger than her. The touching image reminded Victoria of something her mother had said.
"Mum?" She asked.
Her mother, jumped in her seat, startled, "Yes?"
Victoria thought about how to begin her inquiry, and then said, "How did you know about magic?"
Mrs. Thomas, who'd looked frail and old for the past month, looked away from Victoria and out the window, her eyes brimming with tears, "Your father and I tried to have a baby for so long. I prayed and prayed, but I could never carry past the first few weeks." Mrs. Thomas pulled a handkerchief from her handbag and dabbed her wet cheeks, "Your father refused to use any means of science to conceive. If we couldn't have a baby, then we weren't supposed to have one. After I turned forty, I suggested that maybe we adopt a baby, but your father wasn't too keen on that either. We visited so many different agencies, but we never found our baby.
"Then, one afternoon, just a few weeks before your father's fiftieth birthday, an elderly man came to our house with you in his arms. His name was…well it sounded like bumblebee."
Victoria's forehead creased in thought, "Dumbledore?" she supplied.
"Yes! How did you know?" he mother asked, looking over, but refusing to meet her eyes.
"He's the headmaster of Hogwarts. And according to Professor Snape, he's one of the most brilliant wizards around."
"Well, he brought you to our house. Your father was at the parish, but I knew you were our baby. He told me that your name was Victoria Ann and that your mother was unable to keep you…he also said that you were a witch and someday, you'd have to go to school to be trained. That part didn't really quite register at the time. He was on his way out the door and you were in my arms and I loved you already." Mrs. Thomas began to sob in earnest, "I'm so sorry that everything is ruined. I'm sorry, so sorry," Mrs. Thomas continued, "But he's always been like this, and a part of me agrees with him, and you're going off to learn magic, and our family, torn apart…" Her mother finished wiping her face and taking a deep breath tried to calm herself with the Word.
Victoria leaned her face against the window and whispered to herself, "But I've never felt happier."
XxXxX
Standing between platforms nine and ten, at five past ten, Victoria reread her ticket: platform nine and three quarters. Her mother stood beside her and as her daughter looked around for a way to board a train to take her to a school of magic, Mrs. Thomas looked as if she wanted to disappear.
Victoria turned the ticket over in her hand, contemplating on where this platform nine and three quarters really was. She hadn't asked Professor Snape anything more than how they got to school. She didn't think she'd need to ask how to get to the platform. But she knew who she could ask.
She ran around the trolley and threw open her trunk. Her mother looked up at her daughter's strange behavior but didn't comment. After she'd gotten all the necessary supplies out, and ignoring all the looks from those walking by, she wrote furiously,
Tom, how to you get onto the platform?
You have to go through the wall between platforms nine and ten. Run so the Muggles won't see you.
She repacked her trunk and turned to her mother, "Mum, the platform is between nine and ten, literally. We have to run through the wall."
Mrs. Thomas look terrified and shook her head from side to side.
Victoria aimed her trolley for the wall, "It'll be fine. I'll go first, alright?" Her mother nodded uncertainly. Victoria looked around to make sure that not too many people were watching her, and then ran straight for the wall. Even though she knew Tom would be right, she was still a little scared of crashing. Just before the wall, she closed her eyes. When she opened them, she smiled as she saw a scarlet train with the words 'Hogwarts Express' on the engine.
Victoria turned her trolley around and rolled it out of the way so her mother wouldn't trip over it when she too came through the barrier. However, after the first five minutes passed and her mother hadn't come through, she began to worry. Could Muggles get through the wall? The platform was nearly deserted; apparently wizards weren't the early sort of people. Five more minutes later, another family came through. Victoria approached the mother of the group, a tall, pretty Indian woman, and said "Excuse me?"
The other woman looked around for a moment, and then down. She smiled when she saw Victoria, "Yes?"
"Um, my Mum hasn't come through yet, but she's a Muggle. Can Muggles come through the wall?"
The woman looked a little confused, "Of course dear," Seeing that this further distressed Victoria, the woman asked, "What does your mother look like?"
"She's older and wearing a cream coat and a hat with pink flowers. Her handbag is blue," Victoria supplied.
The woman frowned and shook her head, "I didn't see anybody with a hat near the barrier," she paused, "Would you like help getting onto the train?"
Victoria, worried, declined and the helpful woman went to say good bye to her own children. Victoria got her trunk aboard the train by herself and found an empty compartment at the end of the train with a window that looked out onto the platform, hopeful that she might still see her mother. Before stowing her trunk away, she pulled out Hogwarts, A History which she had neglected to read the previous day since she'd met and spent the day talking to Tom.
Sitting down in a seat that faced the barrier, she watched person after person come through the wall onto the platform, where families would say heartfelt good-byes. As the train left the station and other children reached out their windows to wave one last good bye to their parents, Victoria pushed her cheek against the glass and cried silent tears; her mother had never come through the barrier.
XxXxX
Victoria spent most of the train ride to Hogwarts with her nose buried in her book, partly because it was really was a fascinating book, but also she didn't want to let herself cry again. At one point, a girl with bushy hair popped her head into the compartment to look for her friends. "Have you seen two boys, one tall with red hair, the other with black hair and eye-glasses?" She asked Victoria.
Victoria shook her head, "No."
The girl read the cover of Victoria's book and gushed, "Hogwarts, A History! That's a terribly good read. I couldn't put it down."
Shortly after the girl left to continue her search for her missing friends, a short plump witch wheeled slid open the door and asked Victoria if she wanted to buy candy from her trolley. Victoria gave her a polite, "No, thank you," partly because she didn't have any wizard money, but she was also too nervous, too upset to eat anything.
Just as the sun was dipping beneath the horizon, an older girl with curly hair and a Ravenclaw badge came to tell Victoria she needed to change into her robes. She changed and then adjusted her uniform as best she could without a mirror. She packed her book back into her trunk with her regular clothes and sat back on the seat watching the sky gradually darken, sweaty hands clenching and unclenching nervously on her lap.
Eventually, the train slowed as a voice echoed throughout the train telling the students to leave their trunks on the train. The train stopped and the corridors filled with the sound of excited students. Victoria left her compartment and followed the students out of the train. As she stood uncertainly on the platform, a voice boomed, "Firs' years! Firs' years over here!"
A huge man, twice as tall as an average man, with a thick, bushy beard was holding a lantern high above his head, his great hand gesturing the new students toward him, "Firs' years! Come an' follow me!" He bellowed.
Gradually, the first years gathered around the huge man, a bit intimidated by him. He introduced himself as "Rubeus Hagrid." Victoria recalled Professor Snape mentioning him – he was Hogwart's groundskeeper. While the older students went a separate way, Hagrid led the first years up a slope where they got their first view of Hogwarts.
If Victoria thought Diagon Alley was amazing, than Hogwarts was perfect. The castle stood, magnificent and impressive against the almost black sky. Hundred of windows glowed gold with light. Tall towers extended from the lower floors, impossibly high. And beneath the castle was an expansive lake that glittered with starlight. Unexpectedly, the sight of the castle somewhat dimmed the lingering sorrow of her parent's rejection.
Hagrid continued, and the first years, tripping in the slippery grass as they paid more attention to looking at the castle than where they were going, followed him to a small dock where a dozen boats waited for them.
"No more 'an four in a boat," Hagrid directed them. Victoria boarded a boat with two other girls and a boy. Once the boats were full, Hagrid, in a boat of his own, waved his massive hand and the fleet of boats moved on their own toward the castle. During the journey, Victoria kept her eyes on the castle until one of the girls in her boat screamed, "What was that!" The black haired girl pointed out to the lake.
Victoria saw something long moving slowly and she gripped the side of her boat as small waves rocked it unsteadily.
The boy in the boat laughed, "It's the Giant Squid."
Victoria forgot about watching the castle, and watched what she now realized was a tentacle stroke across the water lazily. The black haired girl whimpered and closed her eyes, as if she wanted the boat trip to end. She didn't have to wait long; the boats sailed into a small passage way under the school to an unloading area. The black haired girl crawled over the other girl, a red head, to get out of the boat onto the wooden landing.
After all the first years had exited their boats, Hagrid led them up several flights of stone stairs to a massive hall. Most of the hall was dominated by marble staircases, but there were fancy wooden doors off to the side where they could hear the rest of the school.
One of the doors opened and an older woman with a stern face came through. Hagrid left through the same door, giving them a, "Good luck."
The older woman cleared her throat and they all focused their attention on her, "Welcome to Hogwarts, I am Professor McGonagall,"— she was the Transfiguration professor that Professor Snape told Victoria about – "And I will be helping with your sorting into your houses. There are four houses: Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, and Slytherin. Each of the houses has its own worthy traits and during your seven years here, your house will be your family. Accomplishments will earn your house points, if caught making trouble, points will be lost. The house with the most points at the end of the year wins the House Cup. Now, we are ready for you." Professor McGonagall pivoted sharply and walked back through the door she'd come entered from with the nervous first years in tow.
Despite the enchanted ceiling with its floating candles, Victoria couldn't calm down with all the eyes watching her. Professor McGonagall strode between two tables, Ravenclaw to the left and Gryffindor to the right, to the raised area where the teachers sat. She picked up a worn hat and unfurled a scroll of parchment, "When your name is called, please come up and sit down," she gestured to a single stool, "And the Sorting Hat will sort you into your house. She cleared her throat before calling out, "Bosworth, Alistair." The boy from the boat scrambled onto the stool.
Professor McGonagall placed the hat on Alistair's head, but it was so big, in nearly engulfed his entire face. After a few moments, the hat cried out, "Ravenclaw!" from its ripped-seam like mouth. The table to the left clapped loudly, while the teachers clapped politely. Victoria looked up and down the teacher's table, but, with surprise, she realized that Professor Snape wasn't there. However, there was an empty seat at the left end of the table.
Victoria then turned her attention to the Slytherins beyond the Ravenclaw table. They definitely looked like the most cheerless bunch in the hall. They appraised the new students with haughty, arrogant stares then whispered amongst themselves.
Victoria was jolted from her thoughts when somebody bumped her shoulder. The black haired girl from the boat rushed up to the stool and the hat was placed on her head. And after a few seconds it shouted, "Gryffindor!" The table beside them cheered.
As the next name was called, "Maxwell, Daphne," a Hufflepuff, Victoria realized that her name was quickly approaching. She was anxious; she wasn't sure where she belonged. She hadn't managed to calm herself before Professor McGonagall announced, "Thomas, Victoria."
Victoria swallowed nervously before walking up to the stool. Once there, she hoisted herself up. Professor McGonagall didn't put the hat on her head right away, but instead gave her a peculiar look. Professor McGonagall blinked, and then plopped the hat onto her head. Victoria couldn't see anything, but she could hear a voice in her ear, "Hmm…very interesting. This is the first time I've had to do this," the hat said, then continued lazily, "Now, where to put you?" An image of Professor Snape flashed in her head. "Slytherin, eh? You would be alright there, I suppose, but you'd also do well in Gryffindor, very well. Your parents were Slytherin and Gryffindor, very unusual coupling mind you, but…where to put you…hmm…I see then…Ah" Then the hat yelled loud enough for the entire hall to hear, "Gryffindor!"
Victoria felt the hat pulled from her head and she shakily made her way down to the Gryffindor table which was clapping for their newest member. She sat down across from the black-haired girl and looked up at the teacher's table. A very old man with a long white beard at the center of the table, smiled at her as he clapped politely. Victoria assumed that this was the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, the one who'd brought her to the Thomas home.
There were only two more students to sort after Victoria: Valentine, Emily who became a Hufflepuff and Weasley, Ginevra, who had also been in Victoria's boat, joined Gryffindor. After Ginevra's house was announced, three red-headed Gryffindor boys stood up and began clapping loudly. Victoria recognized them from Florish and Blotts.
As the stool and Sorting Hat left the Great Hall, Professor Dumbledore rose from his ornate chair and addressed the students, "Welcome all to another year. As I'm sure you're too hungry to pay heed to my announcements, let the feast begin." He raised his hands and on all the tables, large plates of delicious food appeared.
Victoria's eyes widened with delight and she was realized that she was very hungry. She hadn't eaten since the muffins on her first train. As she piled her plate with food, the other first years around her began to talk amongst themselves.
A mousey-haired boy began, "I never knew magic existed 'til I got my letter. My little brother, Dennis, is so jealous."
"What's your name again?" a freckled boy asked.
"Colin Creevey," the mousey-haired boy replied, "And you?"
"Henry Harlow," Henry said, and then looked over at the black-haired girl next to him.
Without being asked she said, "Cynthia Kincaid," and then all the first years introduced themselves to the others; they'd been so nervous about their own sorting that they didn't have the mind to remember all the names of their new classmates.
"Aaron Fuller," said a thick boy with eye-glasses.
"Ginny Weasley."
"Victoria Thomas," she said, introducing herself timidly.
"John St. Clair," said the tall, tan boy sitting beside Victoria.
"Sarah Clippenger," the gangly girl beside John finished.
Most of the eight first years began to chat excitedly about how they were looking forward to class, Quidditch, and being able to do magic. Victoria stayed quiet, but she wasn't the only one; Aaron didn't say much at first, but as soon as somebody mentioned Quidditch, he couldn't stop talking, especially when Colin admitted he knew nothing about the sport. Victoria was smiling at Aaron's explanations and his wild hand gestures, when she saw Professor Snape enter the hall out of the corner of her eye.
He had come in through a side door and headed straight for Professor Dumbledore. He bent down and whispered something in the headmaster's ear. Professor Dumbledore, who had been smiling as he talked jovially to a tiny wizard beside him, became very grave. He placed a hand on Professor McGonagall's forearm and said something to her. Then, all three left through the same side door. Victoria stared at Professor Snape as he left, but he never once glanced at any of the student tables.
"Ugh," Cynthia said, "Who's that?"
One of the older students had heard her, a tall black boy, and he told them, "That's Snape. He teaches potions, but he's also Slytherin's head of house."
"Did you see his nose?" Henry laughed.
The older student informed him, "Don't ever let Snape catch you. He's the nastiest teacher at school. He'll give you a detention for sure, but then again he doesn't need a reason. He hates Gryffindors."
Victoria felt her stomach drop and she pushed her plate of cake away from her; she really wasn't hungry anymore. The prospect of Professor Snape hating her because she was in Gryffindor was too much. She'd all but memorized her potions textbook in the hopes of impressing him and had even wanted to be in Slytherin. She wasn't sure why his opinion meant so much to her. Maybe it was because it was Professor Snape who'd introduced her to this wonderful world that should only exist in fiction. But now it seemed that Professor Snape would be like her parents: their relationship would be over because of just one thing about her that she couldn't change.
The other first years didn't notice that Victoria was upset since she was still just as quiet. After the feast was over, the three missing professors hadn't returned, but all of the students rose, most with full stomachs, but one with a heavy heart.
The first years left the Great Hall, following one of the Weasley boys. They began the long walk up the marble stairs to Gryffindor tower. While the other first years were marveled by moving staircases and talking portraits, Victoria brought up the rear, still lost to her melancholy.
Once they'd arrived at the tower, the Weasley boy stopped at a portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress. She aimed a critical eye at him and drawled, "Password?"
The Weasley boy spoke with authority, "Wattlebird." The portrait swung open to reveal a tunnel, which led to a very red room with a roaring fire and cozy furniture. The Weasley boy addressed the first years, "Boys, your dormitory is up the stairs to the left, girls, the right. All of your things are waiting for you in your room." He then left them, a scowl on his face, as strode purposefully toward two of his brothers, who were misbehaving. The rest of the first years gathered in one corner of the room to talk, but Victoria walked up the stairs, went right, and arrived at a dormitory with a "First Years" sign on the door. Opening the door, she quickly found her own trunk, furthest from the door, and from it gathered a nightgown, writing supplies and diary. She changed quickly then scrambled into bed, pulling her curtains tight, but still allowing a bit of candle light to peek in.
After setting up, she held the quill over one of the blank pages of the diary. A drop of ink fell, but she didn't write anything.
Victoria?
Victoria couldn't hold it in anymore, and crying she wrote,
Oh Tom, it was so horrible. I went through the barrier, but my mum didn't come after me. I was upset all the way to school. Things got a bit better after I first saw the Hogwarts, but then came the sorting. The hat knew I wanted to be in Slytherin, but it put me in Gryffindor instead, then an older boy said that Professor Snape hates Gryffindors, so know he's going to hate me because I'm not in Slytherin like I wanted –
At that point, Victoria was so upset that she had trouble breathing and couldn't finish writing her sentence, but Tom wrote back,
Victoria, calm down.
I can't…I'm crying a lot.
I blame myself.
What do you mean?
I should have warned you. I knew you probably wouldn't have gotten into Slytherin, but I didn't want to upset you.
Why?
You're too trusting, too naive.
The Sorting Hat said I'd be alright in Slytherin.
Did it really?
Yes. It also said that at one of my parents were in Slytherin.
And the other?
Gryffindor.
Ah. But you know there's really nothing wrong with Gryffindor.
Tell that to Professor Snape.
I'm sure he'll still like you. He was nice to you while you were at Diagon Alley, right?
Yes.
He won't hate you, everything will be fine…
XxXxX
Victoria awoke with her diary clutched to her chest. She could hear her dorm mates getting ready beyond her curtains. Opening them, she blinked, her eyes adjusting to the light.
Cynthia Kincaid, who was already completely dressed, was looking through her trunk, "What books should we bring to breakfast? I don't fancy coming back up here afterwards."
Ginny Weasley, who was having trouble with her red and gold tie, shrugged, "My brother Percy says we get our schedules at breakfast."
"Which one's Percy?" Sarah Clippenger asked, pulling on her shoes.
"He's the prefect," Ginny then saw that Victoria was awake, "You're up! We're about ready to go down to breakfast, but we'll wait." She smiled kindly.
Victoria, who didn't think she could find her way to the Great Hall by herself, shot out of bed and into her trunk. In the washroom, she dressed quickly, ran her brush through her hair, put on her headband, and cleaned her teeth.
Victoria looked at herself in the mirror. She looked tired, but she'd spent hours being reassured by Tom about everything from Professor Snape not hating her to being able to learn magic. But even after all of his sympathy, Victoria still felt some doubt lingering and all she wanted to do was climb back into bed and write some more.
She left the washroom dumped her nightclothes into her trunk and put almost all of her school books into her bag like the rest of the girls. Turning, she announced, "Ready," to the girls chatting by the door.
As they walked down, Victoria listened to the girls chatting excitedly about flying cars, and wondered what she'd missed in her hasty retreat the night before. At her confused look, Cynthia bluntly commented, "You have no idea what we're talking about, do you?"
Victoria blushed at her own obviousness, "No."
Ginny shot Cynthia a look before saying, "My brother and his friend – "
"Harry Potter," Sarah interrupted.
"You do know about him, right?" Cynthia asked.
Victoria nodded, then turned to Ginny, "So, your brother and Harry Potter…"
Ginny flushed, and stuttered, "Y-yes," she cleared her throat, "Um, they missed the train and then flew a car to school. They almost got expelled."
"Oh," was all Victoria said in response as they entered the Great Hall. They walked to the end of the Gryffindor and table and sat down with the first year boys.
"You've decided to show up," Henry Harlow greeted them.
Cynthia threw Victoria a look, "Somebody decided to sleep in."
Victoria felt her face heat up again and busied herself in serving herself breakfast. She glanced up at the teacher's table and saw that Professor Snape was absent. Despite how much she liked him, she was relieved. As she was buttering her toast, a hundred owls swooped in, dropping mail onto the laps of their students.
Ginny, who was looking down the table, cried, "Oh!"
Victoria looked down and saw an ancient owl lying across a plate of toast. In his beak was a smoking red envelope.
John St. Clair whispered anxiously, "That's a Howler."
"A what?" Colin Creevey asked.
"It – " John began
Suddenly, the envelope, now in one of Ginny's brother's hands, exploded and a woman's voice, magically amplified, echoed across the hall. The woman screamed about how ashamed she was at how Ginny's brother had stolen the car. She mentioned Harry Potter's name at one point. After the message was over, the letter burst into flames, and then ash.
"And that was a Howler," John said, snickering.
"Ah," said a laughing Colin.
"What does your dad do, Ginny?" Sarah asked.
Ginny, whose face was as red as her hair over her brother's Howler, was grateful for a change in topic, "He works for the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Department at the Ministry."
"Ministry?" Colin asked.
Cynthia told him about the Ministry of Magic, almost the same explanation that Professor Snape had given Victoria when she'd asked him, just as Professor McGonagall came around with their schedules.
Looking it over, Victoria was both pleased and horrified that they had Potions with Professor Snape right after breakfast. The first years walked out of the Great Hall together and toward the dungeons – Ginny had asked one of her brothers where the classroom was. It got colder with every step they took, but the first years distracted themselves by talking animatedly about Colin and his camera. They found some Hufflepuff first years waiting outside of a closed wooden door.
Abruptly, the door swung opened, and when the Hufflepuffs didn't go in, the Gryffindors filed past them. The dungeons classroom was cold and the walls were lined up with jars of various animal parts. The Gryffindors paired off and took seats at the desks for two. Victoria, who was sitting with Ginny, pulled out Magical Drafts and Potions and waited. She rubbed her sweaty hands against her skirt, and she tried taking deep breaths to calm her rapidly beating heart.
Victoria and the rest of the class jumped out of their seats as the door slammed shut behind a silent Professor Snape. He strode to the front of the room purposefully, his black robes billowing. At his podium, he pivoted and stared the first years down. He said nothing, but glancing down, he began taking the roll call, "Creevy?"
Colin raised his hand feebly.
Professor Snape continued down the list, and at last, called Victoria, "Thomas?" Victoria raised her hand and met his eyes. During the day at Diagon Alley, despite his cool features, there had always been a touch of warmth in his eyes when he looked or spoke to Victoria. Now, there was none. Heartbroken, Victoria raised her own hand and Professor Snape continued with the roll.
After he had finished, Professor Snape straightened, and give the new students a cool sweep of his black eyes, "You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion making. As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe that this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through the veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses…I can teach you to bottle fame, brew glory, even put a stopper to death," His eyes quickly darted to Victoria's, before looking back out over the heads of the class, "that is, if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually teach. Open your books to page thirteen and with your partner, attempt to brew the Furuncle Elixir. Supplies are in the closet and you have until the end of class," when nobody moved, Professor Snape snapped, "Now!"
Ginny turned to Victoria and whispered, panicked, "Furuncle?"
"It's another name for boils. The elixir's a cure," Victoria whispered quickly. In her head, she went over the potion. With childlike optimism unlike her, especially since there was a part of her that should just give up, she decided that this was her last chance. Maybe if she impressed Professor Snape, he might not hate her; he'd spoken of his best students with a degree of fondness, but he'd never said they were from his own house. Opening her book and quickly double-checking the necessary ingredients, she asked Ginny, "Have you ever made a potion before?"
Ginny, who had opened her book, said, "No…we buy them from the apothecary, but sometimes Mum makes them, though usually those are for stomach pains and head aches…"
"Alright, I'll go to the closet, you read over the instructions," Victoria said, standing up. Ginny nodded dutifully, and Victoria walked over to gather the ingredients. She was the first over, and gathered all she needed to make the potion and make things right between Professor Snape and her.
As Professor Snape prowled the classroom, criticizing nearly everyone, Victoria brewed a perfect Furuncle Elixir. Ginny helped of course, but after almost adding the porcupine quills before taking the cauldron of the fire, Victoria thought it best that Ginny just prepare the ingredients. And despite the enormous amount of pressure she'd put on herself, she found brewing extremely enjoyable. Soon, the potion was thick and mustard yellow like the book described. Professor Snape walked by, glanced at their potion, and then moved on to the next pair. Victoria, who'd been rechecking the book, stopped and fell back onto her stool, dejected.
Class was soon dismissed, but only after Professor Snape had assigned them their first homework assignment. As the first years all but ran from the class room, Professor Snape called, "A moment, Miss Thomas?"
Victoria froze and Ginny shot her a look as she retreated. Victoria then saw Professor Snape approach out of the corner of her eye and she looked down at the ground.
"Tori?" She didn't look up. Professor Snape sighed and placed a hand on her shoulder, "Tori?" She met his eyes. His face no longer held the sneer he'd had all through class, "Five points to Gryffindor for an excellent Furuncle Elixir."
Victoria's eyes widened in disbelief, "Really?"
"Yes…you're a natural at brewing."
"I really liked it," Victoria admitted honestly.
He offered, "If you would like, you can come down and assist me in brewing for other classes during the evening. I promise, I won't hit your hand if you make a mistake."
Victoria had the decency to blush; she'd done that very thing to Ginny earlier. Still a bit concerned about her earlier doubts, she asked, "So you don't hate me for being sorted into Gryffindor?"
"Never," he said sincerely.
Victoria fidgeted, "Then why'd you seem so upset with me earlier?"
"It is inappropriate to show favoritism, Miss Thomas. However it is quite another thing to have a favorite. Is Thursday evening at seven suitable for our first session?" at her eager nod, he continued, "Good. Now, run along. You wouldn't want to be late for class on your first day."
Victoria beamed at him, and then impulsively shot forward and hugged him around his middle. Professor Snape stiffened, then relaxed and patted her on the top of her head, careful of her headband, "Before you are tardy, Tori." She released him and gave him one more bright smile before bolting out the door and up the stairs. She caught up with the other first years as they were leaving through the main doors for the grounds.
As they trekked down to Herbology, Ginny slowed down to walk alongside Victoria, who was at the rear of the group. "What'd Snape want?" Ginny asked.
Victoria, not quite sure she wanted anyone to know that she was Professor Snape's favorite, lied, "Um…he just wanted to know if I'd made the potion before, but I told him I was Muggleborn."
"Oh," Ginny said, "But then why are you smiling?"
"Um…I'm excited for Herbology?" Victoria supplied. She'd always felt bad about lying, and her lack of skill was apparent. However, after her conversation with Professor Snape, she was cloud nine and even if she wanted to, she couldn't stop smiling.
The first years passed another group of Gryffindors coming up from the greenhouses.
"Hey, Ginny" called out the Weasley boy who'd had the Howler this morning. He waved at his sister, but Ginny went scarlet and turned away as she saw Harry Potter walking next to her brother.
Harry Potter also waved at Ginny, and as he did so, his green eyes met Victoria's blue ones. Victoria happily gave him a brilliant smile as she practically floated down to class; she didn't see Harry Potter look back at her over his shoulder.
XxXxX
Over the next few weeks, Victoria's life became somewhat comfortable. She was happier than she'd ever remembered being, but sometimes Professor Snape's cold demeanor in class or the thought of her parents would make her heart race and her hands sweat. To calm herself down, she'd talk to Tom, who was always willing to listen to her fears and doubts.
Classes were, for the most part, going well.
Herbology interested her most of the time, but especially when she knew she was learning about plants that would eventually become potion ingredients, but that hadn't always been the case. On the first day, Luna Lovegood, a Ravenclaw, scared Victoria by informing her that there were invisible creatures called Nargles floating around her head. Luckily, Cynthia's blunt nature was useful…for once.
Transfiguration, taught by Gryffindor's head of house, Professor McGonagall, was probably the hardest class. It required a lot of mental patience and practice to eventually turn one thing into something entirely different.
History of Magic was easily the most boring class. It was taught by Professor Binns, Hogwart's only ghost teacher. Most of the students slept; Victoria and Colin liked to pass the time by playing the Muggle game tic-tac-toe on their notes.
Astronomy was at midnight atop one of the tallest towers. Victoria usually had more trouble staying awake for this class than for History of Magic.
Charms was taught the tiny Professor Flitwick. He was always in a good mood which made the class more bearable, but they had yet to do magic. They'd only learned theory and wrist movements so far.
Defense against the Dark Arts was definitely not one of Victoria's favorite classes, but she'd known this would be the case after she had to force herself through all of Professor Lockhart's books. There was very little magic in his classes; he usually read aloud passages or acted out climactic scenes from his books.
On the other hand, on one temperate afternoon, Victoria learned that potions weren't the only magical talent that she possessed. To her surprise, she was a natural at flying. She had been dreading the day of their first flying lesson. All of the other Gryffindor first years, minus Colin, had flown a broom before. Ginny's brothers were on the Quidditch team and one of her graduated brothers had been captain of his school team. Aaron's cousin was a reserve player for England's team. However, despite all their previous exposure, nobody could call their broom to themselves faster than Victoria. In the air, although all of them were practicing on the same model, Victoria seemed somehow faster as she gracefully swerved around them. Madame Hooch, their instructor and school Quidditch referee, had suggested that she should try out for Gryffindor's team in a few years.
But hands down, Victoria's favorite class was Potions. Professor Snape was true to his word. He didn't treat her any differently than of the other students. In class, Victoria outshined her classmates, but Professor Snape never awarded her any points. During their evening sessions, which were soon set as every Tuesday and Thursday evening, Professor Snape would diligently teach her all the tips and tricks that only a potions master would know. He was a completely different person they were alone, well mostly. He was still unnaturally unexpressive, but he was never harsh with her and when she'd done well or was particularly frustrated, he'd pat her head or grasp her shoulder encouragingly.
One Thursday evening in October, after helping Professor Snape with the complicated Secretion Solution, he rewarded her with her first piece of wizarding candy – a chocolate frog. Putting it in her pocket, she returned his half smile with one of her own and ascended from the dungeons.
On the way up to Gryffindor Tower, she suddenly toppled over, landing on her hands and knees. She heard a familiar laugh and looked over to find Brett Montague and his crew. A first year like herself, the wild-eyed Slytherin boy had made it his goal to pick on Victoria ever since she'd stood up to him while he was bullying Colin. He had his wand out and Victoria knew at once she'd fallen victim to one of his famous tripping jinxes.
Montague chuckled, "Have a nice fall, Thomas?" He friends, the other first year Slytherin boys, laughed at his joke.
Victoria's face flamed up and she tried to get up, but winced as she was met with resistance from her scraped palms and knees.
"Let's see what Thomas'll look like with a face full of boils," Montague raised his wand.
"Hey!" Somebody shouted from the stairwell. In his Quidditch robes, broom over his shoulder, wand at hand, Harry Potter ran into the corridor, "Get away from her!"
Montague, who was looking for a couple of laughs, not a fight, sneered at Harry Potter, "Come on, guys," and left with his friends.
Harry Potter hurried over to Victoria, stowing his wand in his robes and offering a hand, "Let me help you up."
Victoria accepted, but let out a low hiss as her tender flesh met his hand. With a heave, he hauled her back to her feet.
"Going back to the common room?" he asked.
She nodded, and the pair set down the corridor. Victoria glanced over at him, "Thanks, by the way. Montague's got it out for me."
"I know how that goes," he said and Victoria agreed. The animosity between Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy was legendary. He continued, "But I suppose now we're even." He was referring to the incident at Flourish and Blotts.
All at once nervous for some unidentifiable reason, Victoria said, "Um…I don't think we've ever been properly introduced, but I'm – "
"Victoria Thomas," Harry Potter interrupted. "I asked Ginny, or rather, I had Ron ask Ginny who you were because Ginny, well I'm sure you know..." he explained. He then looked uncomfortable, "I'm Harry Potter, by the way, though I'm sure you already knew…"
Victoria shrugged, "Yes," she smiled shyly, "But I'm pleased to officially meet you."
Harry said nothing, but looked at Victoria, who was giving him a curious look. He sighed, "Go ahead."
"Excuse me?"
"You want to ask me about Voldemort," he supplied. Victoria eyes widened at the use of his name, but she supposed that if anyone would say You-Know-Who's name aloud, it'd be Harry Potter.
However, her curiosity had nothing to do with You-Know-Who. Since dinner at the Leaky Cauldron, every time Harry Potter was mentioned in Professor Snape's presence, he seemed to swell with incomprehensible rage. Victoria had tried asking him why he hated Harry Potter so fervently, and the answer she always got was that Harry Potter was arrogant and meddling. Victoria, although she didn't really know him, believed Harry Potter to be merely a pleasant boy with a troubling past. Still, she was anxious to finally discover the root of Professor Snape's prejudice, "Actually, I was wondering why Professor Snape hates you so much."
This surprised him, "Um, well…I wasn't expecting that," he scratched the back of his head, "Well, according to Dumbledore, my dad saved Snape's life."
Victoria's brow creased in confusion, "Well, that seems to be a…odd reason." But, as she tried to sort through Professor Snape's logic, a rather impossible feat, an idea materialized in her mind. Professor Snape, because of Harry Potter's father, hated Harry. But Professor Snape, who, as a rule, hated Gryffindors, was remarkably friendly to Victoria, a Gryffindor. Perhaps Professor Snape had been friends with Victoria's Slytherin parent?
Harry Potter shrugged, "Yeah it does, but my dad…" he drifted off, sounding a bit sad.
"I'm sorry, Harry, about your parents," she said sympathetically.
Harry Potter halted in the corridor, just a little ways from the portrait of the Fat Lady. He looked at Victoria with a strange look, "Nobody's ever said that. They say I look exactly like my dad, or that I have my mum's eyes. Or they don't even mention my parents and just say it's great that I defeated Voldemort…thanks, I guess, for seeing me as, well normal…" he trailed off. He cleared his throat and finished walking to the portrait. There, he supplied the password, "Valour," and let Victoria go past him.
"Harry!" Ginny's brother, Ron, called from a corner of the cozy common room which was cheerfully bright due to a hearty fire in the hearth.
Harry Potter turned to Victoria, "'Night," he said politely with an unsure smile.
"You too," she replied before watching him go over and talk with Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, Harry Potter's other best friend and the bushy-haired girl who'd come into Victoria's compartment on the train. As Victoria went up to her dormitory, she couldn't stop herself from thinking that Harry Potter had a really nice smile.
XxXxX
There weren't many people Victoria could tell about her conversation with Harry Potter. Professor Snape was out of the question. As was Ginny, who was quickly becoming the first year that Victoria was closest to. Ginny had a huge crush on Harry Potter and was likely to be jealous or upset if she found out Victoria had been rescued by the famous boy. Ginny was nearly obsessed; she'd even dragged Victoria down to Hagrid's hut in hopes of seeing Harry Potter since the gamekeeper and he were friends.
So, Victoria discussed Harry Potter with the person she knew she didn't have to be guarded with: Tom Riddle.
…and I couldn't talk to anyone else about this, Tom. Ginny really likes him. And even if she didn't, he's awfully famous.
Famous already? Didn't you say he was a second year?
Yes, but he's famous for something he did as a baby. You-Know-Who attacked his house and killed his parents. He tried to kill Harry with the killing curse, but it rebounded and defeated You-Know-Who.
I don't know who.
He's the most powerful dark wizard in history.
His name?
Victoria hesitated. But eventually wrote out the name she was too afraid to utter aloud,
Lord Voldemort.
Tom wrote back, but his writing was frantic, nearly unreadable,
How? Victoria, tell me everything, now!
Tom, nobody knows how Harry Potter survived, except maybe Professor Dumbledore.
Tom didn't write back, in fact, no matter what Victoria wrote, Tom didn't respond. She was afraid she'd said something to upset him. She desperately hoped she hadn't; Tom was her closet friend and confidant. Victoria was worried and not even her first Halloween at Hogwarts could distract her.
After their last class of the day – History of Magic – the Gryffindor first years shook of the sleepy mood of class in anticipation of the Halloween Feast.
The eight Gryffindor first years, who had been rather close knit during their first few weeks, had effectively spilt into two groups that Victoria like to refer to as the Haves and Have-nots. Cynthia, Sarah, John, and Henry were the Haves. They were relatively popular amongst all the first years. Cynthia was the unquestioned leader and under her rule, the four occasionally got to rub elbows with older students. They were the ones who had that necessary something that designated them as "cool."
Colin, Aaron, Ginny, and Victoria, on the other hand, were labeled as Have-nots. Colin was obsessed with photography and Harry Potter, which made him a little too immature for the Haves. Ginny would have been a Have because her brother is best friends with Harry Potter, however, she couldn't speak properly when he was in the general vicinity. Aaron Fuller didn't just like Quidditch, he was fanatical about it. He got on everybody's nerves when he wouldn't stop talking about the sport, but only the Haves were rude enough to tell him to shut up. Victoria wasn't a Have because she was too quiet, too submissive. She also had the habit of getting lost in her own head and completely missing out on things.
But despite being the lesser of the Gryffindor first years, the four walked together toward the Great Hall, eager for the feast.
On the third floor, Victoria decided to visit the bathroom before the long feast. Ginny offered to go along, but Victoria told her she didn't have to.
The bathroom was unusually empty; every other one she'd visited had at least a pair of gossiping girls a piece. After finishing, she exited the stall, but while walking to the sinks, her ears popped and she vaguely remembered feeling nauseous before everything went black…
XxXxX
Victoria awoke with half her face submerged in water. Sitting up she lifted hand to touch a small knot on the side of her face, her robe heavy and wet. Shakily, she stood down and looked down at herself and realized that her robes weren't only soaked in water. Somehow she'd gotten red paint all over herself. She glanced out one of the windows of the bathroom's windows and realized that it was very late. How long had she been unconscious?
She walked to a sink to splash some warm water on her face, but the first one she tried didn't work. After using a second sink, she heard a commotion out in the corridor. Her shoes making squelching sound in the water, she opened the door and walked toward where it appeared a majority of the school had crowded. Everybody seemed panicked or upset.
Standing up on her tiptoes, Victoria saw that Harry Potter and his two best friends were in the middle of the circle, staring with abject horror at the wall before them. Victoria gasped, written in what looked like blood, were the words, "THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED. ENEMIES OF THE HEIR BEWARE."